Introducing Our 2023 Venture Scientist Fellows
The Venture Scientist Fellowship is an initiative run by Spin Up Science Ventures for a select group of scientists and engineers to upskill in deep science venture building and investment through having a front row seat to our Venture studio and investment arm, Science Angel Syndicate.
We are delighted to announce the launch of our 2023 Venture Scientist Fellowship. After a record high volume of applicants, we have selected a cohort of exceptional scientists and engineers to join us for a unique opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with founders, investors and operators to gain first-hand experience in deep science venture creation. We established the Fellowship to bring together aspiring entrepreneurs to build their network, skills and commercial knowledge, with the goal of enabling world-class researchers to forge alternative career paths within the science economy.
Our Fellows will be working hard to raise the visibility of entrepreneurship in their ecosystem, supporting local infrastructure to connect founders into ecosystem opportunities, as well as working closely with our portfolio companies and growing their network across the wider UK deep science ecosystem. The cohort have expertise across a wide range of scientific disciplines, making them ideally placed to understand cutting-edge science, as well as a keen interest in gaining skills and experience in the deep science investment sector and a passion for seeing the translation of more scientific research into world-changing technologies..
We are excited to introduce this group of talented researchers and can’t wait to support them along their journey of becoming the next generation of innovation leaders!
Meet our 2023 Venture scientist FELLOWs
Dr Anna Motyl (University of Edinburgh)
Anna is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Edinburgh with a background in biological sciences, specialising in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Anna’s translational research uses cell, zebrafish, and mouse models of motor neuron diseases to develop new therapies and bring them closer to the clinic.
Caterina Fantuzzi (University of Hertfordshire)
Caterina has a background in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, and is now completing a PhD as part of the EPSRC CDT Aerosol Science, aiming to develop a device called “lungs-on-chip” to test inhaled aerosols.
Chelsea Houston (Imperial College London)
Chelsea is a junior scientist with a background in biochemistry. She is currently studying an MRes in cancer biology at Imperial College London and is passionate about immunotherapy.
Chelsea Williams (University of Exeter)
Chelsea studied applied mathematics and theoretical physics before working as a data analyst in a large investment banking firm. She is now completing a PhD in theoretical quantum physics at University of Exeter, sponsored by Pasqal and Siemens.
Dr Gaetano Arena (Bristol)
Gaetano is an engineer with a PhD in advanced materials and structures from the University of Bristol. Gaetano is currently working as a materials engineer in the aerospace industry.
Dr Harry George (Bristol)
Harry graduated from his PhD at the University of Bath in 2019 where he studied the neurophysiology of pathological models. Since that time he has held several roles within UKRI and is currently the Senior Portfolio Manager of Enterprise at BBSRC where he supports entrepreneurship within the biosciences to generate impact from UK research.
Dr Ioannis Zampetakis (London)
Ioannis has a background in biomedical engineering and holds a PhD in advanced composite materials and biomaterials from the University of Bristol. He is currently a senior R&D scientist in industry, developing biomaterials for the fashion sector.
Dr Michele Carrabba (University of Bristol)
Michele is a biomedical engineer and is currently a senior research associate at the University of Bristol. His research focuses on the development of a new generation of hybrid scaffolds for applications in cardiovascular tissue engineering.
Nathan Mistry (University of Hertfordshire)
Nathan has a background in sports science and nutrition and is currently a final year biological science PhD candidate at the University of Hertfordshire. His research works in collaboration with GSK Consumer Healthcare and University College London.
Dr Pierre Klein (The Francis Crick Institute)
Pierre holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology and is currently a senior postdoctoral researcher at University College London and the Francis Crick Institute focussing on RNA, cell and gene therapeutics.
To find out more about Spin Up Science Ventures, Science Angel Syndicate, or how you can get involved with our community, reach out to your local Fellow through LinkedIn, or email us at hello@spin-up.science.